What is the best cell phone for a referee?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by The R

Bob I assume that everyone works some rec league games and receives assignments via text as well as communicating with partners via text. I guess that may not be the case.

So in your opinion a phone is only used for conversations so most all models would work?

All the things you have listed is what I am asking.. Is there a phone that does that better than others?

I don't get anything via text. Our schedules are done in arbiter online, and we are told to actually talk to our partners before the game. There are enough folks who don't text, I don't text anyone who hasn't told me it's ok.

Now, I can't wait for the arbiter app for my Blackberry Storm.

And don't mind Padgett. He's still grumpy he can't find any more Carrier Pidgeons.

[The R]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I don't get anything via text. Our schedules are done in arbiter online, and we are told to actually talk to our partners before the game. There are enough folks who don't text, I don't text anyone who hasn't told me it's ok.

Now, I can't wait for the arbiter app for my Blackberry Storm.

And don't mind Padgett. He's still grumpy he can't find any more Carrier Pidgeons.

Snaq all my HS assignments come through the arbiter but all my rec league assignments come via text. I guess it is faster to text times and day then to have a conversation.
We are supposed to actually talk to our partners too but the growing trend of text as a communication medium is taking over and lots of refs just text the time they will be there. Again I guess it is faster than a traditional conversation.

So how do you like the Storm? Does it do spreadsheets at all?

[Zoochy]

You realize that cell phones will critique your game.
After the game, pick up your phone. I bet it will have a message like..
"Missed 5 calls"

[dsqrddgd909]

Originally Posted by Zoochy

You realize that cell phones will critique your game.
After the game, pick up your phone. I bet it will have a message like..
"Missed 5 calls"

Ba-Dum-Bum

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Zoochy

You realize that cell phones will critique your game.
After the game, pick up your phone. I bet it will have a message like..
"Missed 5 calls"

That would be a good game for me.

[Zoochy]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

That would be a good game for me.

I guess yours would read.. Missed 10 calls?

[mbyron]

Best phone for refs? How about the Samsung "Stripe"?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Zoochy

I guess yours would read.. Missed 10 calls?

Depends on whom you ask.

[BillyMac]

I still use my Motorola DynaTAC 8000X. I bought it in 1984. It only weighs two pounds. Light as a feather. And I get to talk for a whole half-hour before I have to recharge it. And if I don't carry an extra pair of shoes in my equipment bag, it will easily fit in my equipment bag.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by The R

Snaq all my HS assignments come through the arbiter but all my rec league assignments come via text. I guess it is faster to text times and day then to have a conversation.
We are supposed to actually talk to our partners too but the growing trend of text as a communication medium is taking over and lots of refs just text the time they will be there. Again I guess it is faster than a traditional conversation.

So how do you like the Storm? Does it do spreadsheets at all?

I've had it for three months now (right before the Storm 2 came out), and I'm starting to get used to it. I don't work rec league, so I don't know how the local rec leagues hand out assignments.

Last year I may have had one or two partners text me, but that was after we talked and only to update their expected arrival times.

[JRutledge]

The phone that works and the official is capable to use. That is all that matters.

Peace

[BktBallRef]

iPhone.

I've suggested to the folks at ArbiterSports that there should be "an app for that." They said it's down the road.

The latest iPhone OS has copy/paste, so you could copy those text messages into your calendar.

The iPhone can be setup to work with Microsfot Outlook, GMail, Yahoo!, AOL, etc. in the time it takes you to type in your usermane and password. No server addresses, SMTP, POP3, or any of that other crap to enter.

If you buy online at AT&T Wireless, you can get an refurb iPhone for less than $100. Just as good and the same warraty as the brand new one.

BTW, Blackberry sucks. I've had both.

There is no other choice IMHO.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

The iPhone can be setup to work with Microsfot Outlook, GMail, Yahoo!, AOL, etc. in the time it takes you to type in your usermane and password.

Same with my Blackberry 9000.

BTW, Blackberry sucks. I've had both.

Is the iPhone better than the Blackberry? I don't know, I've never owned an iPhone but the Blackberry far from "sucks".

There is no other choice IMHO.

Blackberry 9000.

[budjones05]

Hmmmm, the best cell phone for any official is a phone that will make calls. And not just in places that it likes!

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

I've suggested to the folks at ArbiterSports that there should be "an app for that." They said it's down the road.

If you have an application that you can read Excel spreadsheets or a PDF file on your phone, you can transfer your ArbiterSports schedules over to your phone. How I do it for my Palm Centro is I use a desktop to save my schedule as a PDF file, and then attach it to an email to my phone, open it, and save it to my phone. Sounds like a lot of steps, but it beats sitting around waiting for the Arbiter folks to come up with an app.